The Fun of Flyball... continued
The roster of the Mutts in Motion flyball club is as varied and diverse as the Ben & Jerry’s section of your grocer’s freezer. From mystery mix mutts, to Jack Russells, to cattle dogs and herding dogs, their lineup includes a Dalmation, a Portuguese Podengo, a Pomeranian and, surprisingly, a couple of Bouviers des Flandres.
If the dogs themselves are a motley crew, their owners are motlier. The youngest handler is Victoria Neufeld, age 16, running Roxy, an Australian Shepherd so pretty she looks like a beauty queen. On the other end of the spectrum are a couple of senior citizens with such an astounding amount of energy one might be forgiven for pronouncing flyball the secret of eternal youth. The oldest dog on the team is Lizzy, an 11 year old Staff Bull Terrier, owned and loved by Loren Fleming. Lizzy and Loren may not be speed demons but they exemplify what Mutts in Motion is all about.
These dogs are predominantly rescue dogs. In previous lives they have been unwelcome and unwanted, abandoned, cut loose, dropped off, left behind.
Nancy Chauncey’s Toby was a drug store giveaway. Lavada Montgomery who is one of the original founders of the club, currently has five four-legged family members including Jack who came from a rescue group, Riddle who was left as a four month old pup when his owners moved, and Chammy, for whom Lavada is the fifth, and absolutely positively last, port of call.
The members of Mutts in Motion know first hand the healing power of a sport that can channel one’s natural exuberance. Dog and handler must become highly trained, responsive, cooperative members of the team. And that doesn’t happen overnight. Everyone commits to the training, everyone shows up and does their best, everyone belongs.
These dogs haven’t just found a home, they have found a life and that life has purpose.
A singles run brings a little Pomeranian to run against a young Boston Terrier. Both are still learning, easily distracted by barking dogs on the sidelines and red flags which flutter up to indicate a fault. They loose their way. The handlers yell and wave, stand on their heads if it will bring them back on track.
After a comical minute or two the dogs finally complete the run, each crossing the finish line to a hero’s welcome. This is a benign universe where those who go astray get second chances, and everyone gets lavish praise for being just who they are, whoever they are. If that’s not grace I don’t know what is.
In fact, in the flyball universe, the divisions are not determined by the size of the dog but by its speed. Hence Retrievers and Rat Terriers can be team mates and the height of the hurdles will be set for the smallest dog. It’s the universe we all wish we lived in, where what we have in common would so far outweigh our extraordinary differences we could all play on the same team.
When the races are run and the dust has settled, Mutts in Motion’s first tournament is declared a success. At the end of the tournament there is an awards ceremony with plenty of categories to ensure that no team goes home empty handed. A pot luck supper follows, and no one goes home hungry either.
Mutts in Motion is a non-profit group. Look out for their flyball demonstration performances at half time at NBA and NFL games, or catch them at rescue fund-raisers and school events. MuttsInMotion.com